A medicine seller: shaking a rattle to attract attention, and carrying a notice and a cloth bundle containing drugs. Watercolour by Zhou Pei Qun, ca. 1890.

1890

1 painting : watercolour ; sheet 26 x 34.2 cm

Extensive lettering in Chinese Lettering pencilled on accompanying folder: A medicine vendor. Itinerant healer holding a bell to announce his presence, and notice inscribed 'Lu shun tang' (house in the smooth street, i.e. place where he will receive outpatients). Text below would indicate range of services, e.g. surgery, acupuncture, specialisms, etc. A practitioner of folk medicine, despised by regular physicians, but healers of this type were not all quacks. Uses book called 'The bell'. In yellow bag carries drugs. (K.W. Ma, December 1988) Bears number pencilled in upper right hand corner: 49

Wellcome Collection 571485i